Report Questions Marshall’s Use of Taxpayer Funds

Kansas Voter Registration Closes Tuesday

Trump Pledges Kansas Rally for Marshall

Coover Challenges Schmidt on Rural Issues

Concordia Police Seek Terrorism Charge After Arrest

Report Questions Marshall’s Use of Taxpayer Funds

TOPEKA, Kan. — A joint investigation published Oct. 9 by Kansas Reflector and MS NOW reported possible misuse of congressional staff and taxpayer resources during Sen. Roger Marshall’s 2020 Senate campaign, when he represented Kansas’ 1st District in the House. The outlets reviewed audio, photographs, videos, calendars and more than 200 texts, including one in which top aide Brent Robertson allegedly labeled a Chicago campaign trip official after arranging one government meeting so taxpayers could cover flights. On an October 2020 Dallas trip, campaign funds paid for flights but taxpayers covered a meal, although the only official activity scheduled was a Zoom meeting, the investigation reported. Public Citizen’s Craig Holman called the accounts “breathtaking and seemingly very damning,” and campaign-finance lawyer Brett Kappel said exceptions permitting campaign use of official resources are narrow. Campaign lawyer Ryan Dollar said Marshall follows Federal Election Commission and Senate ethics rules, blamed a disgruntled employee and declined to answer specific questions from reporters he characterized as aligned with Marshall’s opponent. The coverage cited no official finding of wrongdoing, but raises questions about compliance with congressional restrictions as Republican Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton on Nov. 3, with advance voting beginning as early as Oct. 14.

Kansas Reflector · MS NOW · KCUR

Kansas Voter Registration Closes Tuesday

TOPEKA, Kan. — Tuesday, Oct. 13, is the final day to register for Kansas’ Nov. 3 general election, and the state does not allow Election Day registration. Eligible U.S. citizens who will be at least 18 by Election Day can register through the secretary of state’s website or a county election office. Advance ballots begin going out Wednesday, Oct. 14, and counties may start in-person voting that day, with local schedules varying. Mail ballots are not sent automatically, so voters must apply by Oct. 27 to use that option in races for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House and a constitutional amendment specifying that only U.S. citizens may vote. KSNT reported Oct. 12 that county election officials are preparing for a possible Senate recount, with at least one county planning for turnout comparable to a presidential election.

Kansas News Service · KSN · KSNT · Kansas Secretary of State

Trump Pledges Kansas Rally for Marshall

TOPEKA, Kan. — President Donald Trump promised a “Kansas Style Rally” for Republican Sen. Roger Marshall “very soon” in an Oct. 12 Truth Social post but announced no date or location. The Kansas Republican Party also could not confirm when he would visit. Trump questioned the moderation of Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, a United Methodist pastor, and said Marshall received a “bum rap” over collection lawsuits by his former medical practice that Hamilton’s campaign has highlighted in ads. A Hamilton campaign spokesman called the post evidence of Washington’s panic over a “desperate failing politician.” Trump last campaigned in Kansas at a 2018 Topeka rally, and his pledge comes six days after the Cook Political Report moved the Senate race to “Toss Up.” The contest could help decide Senate control in a state Trump carried by about 16 points in 2024 and that has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932.

Kansas Reflector · KWCH · KCTV5 · FOX4 · Washington Times · Newsweek

Coover Challenges Schmidt on Rural Issues

HUMBOLDT, Kan. — Our original reporting examines Democrat Don Coover’s challenge to Republican Rep. Derek Schmidt in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District, which Donald Trump carried by nearly 20 points in 2024. The former Republican and Army veteran draws on experience in ranching, cattle genetics and veterinary medicine while campaigning on rural health care and agriculture tariffs. At a Sept. 8 bookstore event in Humboldt, Coover discussed immigration enforcement, farming and the economy. Ratings agencies favor Schmidt, while Coover identifies fundraising, name recognition and young voter turnout as obstacles. His campaign says more than 90% of donations are grassroots and cites an internal poll showing a tie after simulated favorable spending; before that exercise, he trailed by single digits. Schmidt had raised nearly twice as much in the latest figures Citizen Journal could confirm, from July, with new filings due Oct. 15; the newsroom has requested an interview with the Schmidt campaign.

Can Don Coover win? Inside the underdog Democratic candidate running in KS-02

Coover is running against incumbent Congressman Derek Schmidt

citizen journalMatthew Petillo

Concordia Police Seek Terrorism Charge After Arrest

CONCORDIA, Kan. — Police arrested Landon Deal, 36, on Oct. 10 after receiving a concerning tip about an event planned in Concordia, the Cloud County seat in north-central Kansas. Officers stopped Deal at Fifth and Broadway streets shortly after 2 p.m. and said he fled on foot before being caught without further incident. He was taken to North Central Kansas Medical Center and then booked into Cloud County Corrections on requested charges of terrorism, aggravated criminal threat and felony obstruction, along with an existing warrant in a theft case. Police have not identified the planned event but described the case as isolated and said they knew of no ongoing public threat. The requested charges are police recommendations, and the Cloud County attorney determines what to file; Deal has not been convicted in this case. The terrorism allegation centers on intent: Kansas law includes committing, attempting or conspiring to commit a felony to intimidate or coerce civilians, influence government policy through intimidation or coercion, or affect government operations.

KWCH · WIBW · KAKE · Little Apple Post · Kansas Legislature

Sources

1. Kansas Reflector / KCUR
2. Kansas News Service/KCUR / KSN / KSNT / KSNT / Kansas Secretary of State: Election Dates / Kansas Secretary of State: Amendment
3. Kansas Reflector / KWCH / KCTV5 / FOX4 / Washington Times / Newsweek
4. Citizen Journal
5. KWCH / WIBW / KAKE / Little Apple Post / Kansas Legislature: K.S.A. 21-5421

This article was written using our proprietary AI system, Cronkite. The final decision to publish this article was made by a human. For more info, read our AI policy.

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